In a stunning twist to the ongoing saga of Janet Lim Napoles and the pork barrel scandal, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division announced on Monday that the crafty businesswoman has been acquitted of plunder charges due to lack of evidence. The decision stated that there was insufficient proof that Napoles conspired to amass at least P50 million of PDAF funds through kickbacks and commissions. However, she was found guilty of nine counts of corruption of a public official. Former APEC party list Rep. Edgar Valdez was also convicted of nine counts of direct bribery.
The charges against Napoles and Valdez originated from a scheme that was exposed in 2013. Napoles was accused of working with lawmakers to funnel their discretionary funds into non-existent organizations that she had created. This led to the splitting of the proceeds between Napoles and the involved lawmakers. The recent ruling by the Sandiganbayan raises concerns about the competence and diligence of the prosecution in establishing Napoles’ guilt.
In May of this year, Napoles was cleared of 16 counts of graft over the use of Senator Ramon Revilla’s pork barrel. However, she was found guilty of graft and malversation charges related to the misuse of funds allocated to the late Congressman Douglas Cagas. Napoles is currently serving time in prison for her involvement in similar scams.
With the dismissal of the plunder charge, Napoles may be eligible for bail. The prosecution’s handling of the case has raised doubts about their competence and commitment to seeking accountability for the misappropriated funds. It is worth noting that Napoles’ assets in the US were seized by the United States justice department in 2015, indicating the substantial amount of ill-gotten wealth she had accumulated.
The recent ruling imposes prison terms and fines on Napoles and Valdez for their corruption convictions. Given the severity of the charges and the potential for evasion, the justice department should carefully consider denying any bail petitions from Napoles’ camp. The Napoles scandal serves as a cautionary tale about the pervasive nature of corruption and the misuse of taxpayer money.
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